James Li – Commercial Lending
From starting his banking career by “pure accident” to leading a team of several bankers in Commercial & Industrial Lending at Penn Community Bank, James Li is no stranger to making a deal come to fruition.
James’ career couldn’t have begun at a more tumultuous time for a recent graduate with a finance degree: 2007 – right as the economy started to take a turn.
“It was tough,” he reflects, “but who would’ve thought a quick interaction with a friend on campus would start my career right then.”
A friend’s uncle was in banking and looking to hire someone with a finance background who spoke Chinese to be a Credit Analyst. While he took to opportunity, James didn’t know much about commercial lending and the market crisis made it a hard thing to navigate.
“I learned a tremendous amount during this time from seeing bad deals,” he says.
James credits his background as a Chinese American as an important part of his work growth from that point to today. James’ family first applied and interviewed with the consulate to leave China in 1993, but failed due factors like lack of documentation and his family’s financial capacity. But his father persisted, and the Li family finally was cleared to immigrate to the United States in 1997. It was from his father’s perseverance that he learned to value the commitment and dedication to relationships in every part of his life and job.
The Li’s made their home in Chinatown, New York City before their father gave them the choice to stay or move, eventually leading them to Pittsburgh.
“The first years in America for me, a 13 year old at the time, were difficult,” remembers James. “I kept conversations at a minimum because I couldn’t fully communicate with peers.”
Ultimately, with the help of friends and teachers, he soon developed his English language and social skills.
Fast forward a few years, with college on the horizon, James was unsure if he should leave or stay home and work at his family’s restaurant. Without hesitation, his parents told him that he had the opportunity to receive an education and to take advantage of it – a chance his parents, who grew up in China in the 1950s and 1960s, never had. An encouragement James marks as a critical moment in his life’s journey
Today, he says he uses the struggles he and his family faced as motivation help customers overcome their challenges. In them, James sees the same drive and spark that inspires him.
“My customers are my role models,” he says. “A lot of them are entrepreneurs and I look up to how hard they work. It’s really encouraging to see that you can succeed if you focus on the right thing.”
Q&A with James
What does Asian American Heritage Month mean to you?
It’s great to feel like our contributions to America are being acknowledged and celebrated. If you look back on history, we’ve come a long way. Now, there is an entire month to celebrate Asian Americans in our country.
Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within the banking industry important?
It gives everyone a chance to succeed. DE&I is the ability to give the chance. Some communities are underserved because of their lack of understanding of how banks work. Immigrants, especially, know how to work hard. I always take the approach that if the loan is not doable, there is always the opportunity to educate the customer. We have to understand that everyone does not have the same opportunity.
Is there any Asian American causes or organizations you’d like to spotlight?
The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) is great local non-profit organization that does a lot to preserve and promote Philadelphia Chinatown. PCDC helps with everything from English language support to housing for the immigrant community. Their mission is to meet the need for cultural and economic development in Philadelphia Chinatown.
